Theiline Pigott Mccone, Seattle Philanthropist, Wife Of Ex-CIA Chief

Theiline Pigott McCone, a Seattle philanthropist and former regent of Seattle University, died yesterday at her home in Pebble Beach, Calif. She was 86.

McCone was the widow of Paul Pigott, president of Pacific Car and Foundry Co. (later called PACCAR), who died in 1961.

She later married John McCone, a longtime family friend who at the time of the wedding was director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He had previously served as chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.

After her marriage to McCone, Theiline McCone divided her time between her Highlands home and Pebble Beach. The Highland home, a 32-room mansion overlooking a huge bluff, was frequently the site of charity benefits.

Theiline McCone succeeded Paul Pigott as a Seattle University regent and later made substantial gifts to the school in his name. The university granted her an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1980.

She was active in efforts to preserve historic properties and was vice chairwoman of the board of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

In Seattle, she participated in numerous civic organizations, including the Arboretum Foundation, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Pacific Northwest Research Foundation, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Symphony and Seattle Garden Club.

She was an avid gardener and collector of antiques, particularly Chinese artifacts.

McCone was born Theiline McGee in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1903. She moved with her parents to California, where she grew up.

She married Pigott in 1924. They had six children. One son, Charles, is chairman and chief executive of PACCAR, a Renton-based manufacturer of trucks and heavy equipment. Another son, James, is president of Pigott Enterprises, a private investment firm.

Besides her husband, McCone also is survived by three daughters: Ann Wyckoff, Mary Ellen Hughes and Theiline Scheumann; 32 grandchildren; and 42 great-grandchildren.

All the children live in the Seattle area.

A service is scheduled at 4 p.m. Monday at St. Luke Church, 322 N. 175th St., Seattle. The family suggests remembrances to Children's Hospital and Medical Center.